Lung cancer is the most common form of cancer in much of the world. While most are very aware that smoking is one of the major causes, another important cause is less well known: air pollution. Exposure to polluted air has been proven to produce lung cancer—even children have a risk when breathing in the polluted air.
What is Air Pollution?
Air pollution is basically when harmful chemicals, dust, and smoke pollute the air. The origin of these substances, commonly referred to as pollutants, may be from factories, cars, or even wildfires. Thus, any of these particles that are present in the air a person is breathing can easily enter his or her lungs and cause serious problems to their health, including lung cancer.
How Does Air Pollution Cause Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer starts when the cells of the lungs grow out of control. The particles in polluted air are small and are called carcinogens; that is, those are substances which might cause cancer. When carcinogens are inhaled into the lungs, they may cause cell damage. Over time, this could lead to the growth of one kind of lung cancer.
For example, one of the most common pollutants involves PM2.5 that is a tiny particle inhaled far into the lungs. For a long period, PM 2.5 has been linked with the heightened danger of lung cancer. The rest carcinogens are nitrogen dioxide commonly known as NO2 that is very hazardous and ozone.
Who’s at Risk?
Although everyone who breathes in polluted air has a risk, not all of them have the same level of vulnerability. Children, aged people, and people with previous conditions like asthma are those bearing this more. The chance of developing lung cancer in cities that have higher levels of pollution is still greater.
Cancer treatment other than Surgery in Ahmedabad
It is then diagnosed as lung cancer, and then different modes of treatment such as surgery or there may be other treatments that might not involve surgery. Advanced cancer treatment in Ahmedabad can also be nonsurgical. They are normally less invasive and the time taken by the individual to recover is shorter.
Radiation Therapy: This is a high-energy ray treatment to kill the cancer cells. It is mainly used in patients when surgery cannot be performed, or taken in conjunction with another treatment method.
Chemotherapy: Treatment involving the use of drugs to try and kill cancer cells. Drugs can either be oral or injected. This is quite a common treatment when it comes to lung cancer, especially when the disease has spread to parts of the body.
Immunotherapy: It enhances the body’s immune system to fight cancer. This is a relatively new kind of treatment that has already proven quite effective in some lung cancer patients.
Targeted Therapy: Target therapy uses medications to target the specific changes taking place within the cells due to the presence of cancer. That is a different approach compared to chemotherapy, as it targets the cancerous cells; hence, lesser side effects.
Those are the available facilities in Ahmedabad in various cancer centers where experienced doctors like Dr. Vikesh Shah are treating their patients with personalized treatment. One of the eminent doctors, Dr. Vikesh Shah is offering the most advanced cancer treatment option devoid of surgery.
Recent Technology in Cancer Treatment in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad has some of the latest and most up-to-date technologies for cancer treatment. These technologies are enabling doctors to treat lung cancer much more effectively with minimal side effects.
Robotic Surgery: Though this constitutes a form of surgery, it needs mentioning because robotic surgery is much less invasive and a lot more accurate than conventional surgical procedures. It allows the doctor to take out the cancer by making much smaller incisions; hence, faster recovery time is guaranteed.
Stereotactic body radiation therapy: This is very high doses of radiation, which are given precisely to the tumor with pinpoint accuracy. As such, the SBRT limits damage to the healthy tissues surrounding the tumors, and for that reason is particularly suitable for small lung tumors.
Proton Therapy: This is a more technologically advanced type of radiation; thus, instead of X-rays treating the cancer, protons are employed in their place. This is much more precise and causes very little damage to the healthy tissues around the tumor site. This technology is becoming increasingly available within the bounds of cancer facilities in Ahmedabad.
Liquid Biopsy: Novel means of testing the presence of cancer by drawing a little blood. It is less invasive compared to conventional biopsy and can be used by a physician to monitor the effectiveness of a treatment.
Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosis: AI is being put to use to study the images of the lung for early detection by the doctor. For any treatment to be effective, the early detection of the disease becomes requisite. Thus, AI is making the doctor’s job easier in diagnosing lung cancer at an early stage.
These are some of the technologies helping change the face of cancer treatment in Ahmedabad or good. The best services are given to the patients.
Saving Yourself from Air Pollution
While we can’t stop all the air we breathe, there are a few precautions we could take in order to protect ourselves from air pollution:
Stay indoors during high pollution days: When possible, this might include days when traffic is very heavy, especially in the morning and evening rush-hour traffic.
Keep Indoor Spaces Clean: Indoor air purifiers clean indoor air of the pollutants and reduce the amounts that are inhaled.
Wear Masks: While going outdoors, especially in highly polluted areas, such a mask can filter out harmful particles in the air. Plants of trees help clean the air by absorbing noxious pollutants. Growing trees near your residential area will contribute to cleaner air.
Avoid Smoking: Smoking can create a lot of pollution of the atmosphere and also stands as the top carcinogenic lung disease. Avoid smoking and avoid second-hand smoke.
Conclusion
Lung cancer may be a serious disease, but recently the technology in cancer treatment in Ahmedabad and the expertise of doctors like Dr. Vikesh Shah have raised many methods to treat it other than surgery. Air pollution may have a high potential risk, but protection from it and early treatment give a chance for healthy living.
It will be worth discussing with a qualified cancer doctor in Ahmedabad if you or your loved one has been suffering from lung cancer. Book an appointment today with Dr. Vikesh Shah and learn about options that best suit your treatment. Remember, you are not alone in this journey, and there is help available to counteract the lung cancer disorder in many ways.